Orifice guard construction for dispensers



Oct. 2, 1951 G. H. PACKWOOD, JR

* ORIFICE GUARD CONSTRUCTION FOR DISPENSERS Filed Aug. 25, 1947 GEORGE H. F e/(Waugh a? ll I 1 Arr ENE/.5.

F'atenteci Oct. 2, 1951 ORIFICE GUARD CONSTRUCTION FOR DISPENSERS George H. Packwood, J r., St. Louis, Mo.

Application August 25, 1947, Serial'No. 770,426

2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a dispenser for powdered soap, or the like. In the description to follow, it will be described in connection with the dispensing of powdered soap, although it will be understood that it can be used with other finely divided materials.

It is an object of this invention to provide a dispenser of this character, wherein there is an outlet at the bottom of a bowl, which outlet is controlled by a valve, and wherein there are means that prevent the collection of soap particles around the outlet and on the valve because of the Wetting of such parts. More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a dispenser having a valve and orifice opening so designed that the splashing of water onto these .parts and the consequent adhesion of soap thereto are largely prevented. Also, it is an object to provide a dispenser having a splash guard that will prevent water splashed onto, or collecting on the outside of the dispenser, from draining onto the valve.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of this type wherein the valve and operating parts can be removed through the bottom opening of the dispenser. A further object is to provide a dispenser as aforesaid wherein there is a particularly desirable adjustment mechanism.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of this kind wherein there is a bowl with an outlet opening at the bottom, a valve controlling flow through the opening, which valve is operated in such wise that the hand of the user may come close to the bottomopening,

.but with means to prevent the splashingof water ,onto the parts, and consequent. adhesion of soap thereto.

In the drawings: Fig. l is a front elevation of the dispenser; Fig. 2 is a diametrical section through the dispenser, taken from side-to-side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the dispenser partly broken away to show elements in section; and

Fig.4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showinga modified operating means.

01' false bottom member I 6 that converges downwardly and has an opening I! therein that is smaller than the main orifieel5.

Across the upper part of the bowl l0, there is a strap l8 that is secured by upturned ends bolted to the top of the bowl as at [9. These bolts have heads cooperable with slots in the top, for attachment of the top. One end of this strap likewise receives a plate 20 that is employed to hold locking means for holding the cover l2 in place.

This strap has a center opening 2|, through which the upper end of a relatively massive plunger 22 projects. There is a removable pin, such as a cotter key 24, above the strap I8 and passing through the plunger 22 to suspend the plunger on the strap l8.

This plunger 22 extends downwardly through the opening ll of the cone [6 to the orifice l5, whereat it receives and supports a valve disc 23. This valve disc is shaped approximately to the diameter and shape of the main orifice l5, but it can slide therethrough. It is adapted to close the orifice l5 sufficiently to prevent the flow of soap therethrough, and sufficiently to prevent the ingress of water from the bottom of the dispenser into the bowl. However, the valve 23 is removable downwardly through the orifice.

In Fig. 2, the valve is operated by a handle 25 that passes through an opening 26 in the side of the bowl and has a reduced pin-like extension 21 on its inner end. This pin portion passes through a transverse opening 28 in the plunger 22, and has a removable pivot pin 29 in the form of a cotter pin that engages it rockably with the plunger. The handle 25, as is evident, can fulcrum on the wall of the bowl and thereby cause the plunger 22 to be elevated, raising the valve 23.

Over the strap I8, there is a shield 30 that is U-shaped in cross section, as shown in Fig. 3, and which may be engaged over the strap. One end of this U-shaped shield is arcuate, as shown in Fig. 2 at 3|, so that the strip may be inserted at its other end over the strap and rocked down into position. In position, it extends down to a point somewhat below the handle 25.

Mounted also on the strap, there is a closure member 33 that is held to the strap removably by screws 34. This closure forms, with the strap, an enclosing means to receive the upper end of the plunger and to contain an adjustment stop 35 in the form of a screw that is threaded into the top of the closure 33 and is provided with a lock nut 36. This screw 35 is axially aligned with the plunger 22 and is designed to limit adjustably the upward stroke of the plunger. As the screw plunger. these parts. V v

The soap charged into the bowl 1'8 descends 3 7 stop 35, the closure 33, the strap l8 and the bowl 26 are allrigidly fastened together, the upward impact of the relatively heavy plunger 22 against the screw on the upstroke of the valve will agitate the bowl for the purpose of breaking up any packing of the soap within the dispenser, as will be described. the plunger into closing position agitates the bowl when the pin 24 strikes the strap element I8.

The valve 23 is shown as being concave upwardly on its inner portion, but flared downwardly at 40 on its rim. This valve is designed to be suspended approximately at the bottom of the inwardly converging portion of the bottom ll of the dispenser. It closes the orifice It at the smallest part of the converging walls I I. The valve is attached; to the plunger by a headed pin 4| that fits into an axial opening in the. bottom of the plunger, and is held there by pressed'fit. If desired, a cross pinor the like may be em ployed.

This dispenser is provided with a flaring bottom ringelike element 42 that may be formed as a separate piece from the bowl ll), but can be formed integrally therewith. It will be noticed that the member 42 flares outwardly and downwardly below the orifice lfi'and carries the main dispenser wallbelow and outwardly of the valve.

In like manner, the free fall of V 4 there can be no discharge of soap through the opening. If the handle25 or the handle 50 is operated to elevate the plunger, the valve is lifted so that it rises above the orifice I5, which is to say that it rises beyond that portion of the bottom of the dispenser that is of substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the valve. It passes into the outwardly and upwardly converging bottom portion ll, so that soap'flowing around the edge of the valve may fall through the orifice I5 and descend into a hand disposed below the orifice.

When made asa-separateelement, the guard ring 42 is stepped outwardly from the bottom of the orifice portion of the bowl.

The dispenser of 'Fig. 4 is the same as that in Fig. 2 except that, instead of having the handle at the s'i'deof the dispenser, it is formed as a continua'tion 50 of the plunger. In this case, the handle has a pin-like projection 51, that may be of the same size as the pin-like projection 27 of the handle 25, which projects upwardly into the opening in the bottom of the plunger. Ref-erence to Fig. 2 will show that the pin-like projec- "tion 5| is identical with the stem portion of the headed element 4| that holds "the valve 2 3 in placegandthat there is a similarcross pin. Thus,

'an identical plunger 22 for both handle constructions may be used, eliminating the necessity of manufacturing separate parts for this. Yv'here the handle 50 is employed inplace of the handle 25 the shield maybe eliminated as its function is not required.

The operation of the dispenser is as follows:

The cover l2 may be removed and a suitable quantity of powdered soap or "other finely divided material to be dispensed'fille'd into the bowl-iii. Where the handle 151's employed, the shield will prevent the building up of the soap level around the handle, and thereby .prevent the interference by such soap with the operation of the 'handre. Soap has the characteristic of tending l tolpaek, and of being hygroscopic, so that it ad- "operating parts that are immersed in it. The

purpose of the shield "is to prevent the rising of any substantialquantity of soap aroundt'he handle and its connections.

The upper end of the plunger, in. any case, rises into the closure 33', which forms, with the strap, a completely enclosed space to receive'the adjustment parts and stop for the upstroke, as well as the key that limits the downstroke of the Consequently, soap .cannot get into "through the'opening H 'a'ndrests upon'th'e upper surfac'eof the valve 23'. When thisvalve is closed,

In this elevation of the valve, the soap that has descended through the opening I! to rest upon it is elevated against the false bottom IT. This causes such soap to be ejected over the edge of the. valve. This preferred construction is obtained by providing a relationship between the upper surface or the valve and the side of the orifice 11, so that the soap descending through the orifice will spread outwardly in a conical pile on top of the inner upwardly concave portion. of the valve and come torest without spreading outwardly against the walls of the bowl portion H. The angle of repose of the powdered soap being known, the foregoing can be accomplished by relating the size of the orii'ice IT and the sizeof the valve to this angle of repose. The upwardly concave shape of the valve 23 increases the angle of repose relative to the horizontal. The valve 23' can be made flat but the upwardly concave shape ispreferred.

As the plunger is raised, which is normally an action that takes place with relatively little movement of the handle, the plunger strikes the screw 35 and, as previously mentioned, causes agitation of the contents, so that any lumping or cohesion of thesoap particles is broken up, and consequently the :soap will then descend through the opening I? upon the released the handle and return of the valve to its former position. Such agitation is repeated upon release of the handle and descent of the valve. This insures a charge of soap toreach operation of the handle.

With two-handed operation as indicated .in Fig. 2, where one hand :'is used to operate the handle 25 and the other "hand is held below the orifice to receive the :soap descending therethroug'h, the guard 42 prevents theihand from being brought against the valve parts or against the orifice adjacent thereto. Consequently, if the hand is wet, water is prevented .from getting to these parts. The outward flare on the guard member 12, and the outwardly 'steppedarrangement of the guard, provide-a construction wherein the vertically descending soap normally does not strike-against the inner surface of the guard walls, at least at their lower parts. If Water is splashed or otherwise put on the guard by the hand, it is thereby located away "from the parts of the guard against which descending soap may strike. This is an important feature in preventing the collectionof'soap adhering to the'val-veand the bottom partsof thedispenser. The; guard extendsdown low 1 enough that the "hand cannot normally swell upwardly when pressed against it far enough to contact the valve parts. Furthermore, any water The construction issuchthat the substitution of the handle 'for the handle 25 is readilyfaccomplished with a minimum number of parts, owing to the identity of shape of the tongue portion of the pin 4| and the tongue portion 5| on the handle 50.

It may thus be seen that a dispenser has been provided which obtains a sure operation, with agitation of the parts, with complete adjustability, with the prevention of the collection of soap on the bottom of the dispenser, and with ready serviceability. Also, service is facilitated as removal of the closure 33 permits the keys 24 and 28 to be withdrawn, and the valve and plunger withdrawn through the orifice.

What is claimed is:

1. In a dispenser for powdered soap material and the like, a bowl having bottom walls downwardly converging to an outlet orifice and flaring smoothly outwardly in an extension below the orifice, the orifice constituting the narrowest section of the walls, a valve in the bowl extending at least substantially to said walls at the orifice for closing the orifice, m'. ans to support the valve in said closing position, means to move the valve away from said orifice to permit descent of material through the orifice, the extension projecting below the orifice far enough to prevent the hand of the user from contacting the valve when such hand is engaged against the bottom of the extension.

2. In a dispenser for powdered soap material and the like, a bowl having bottom walls downwardly converging to an outlet orifice and flaring smoothly outwardly in an extension below the orifice, the orifice constituting the narrowest section of the walls, the valve in the bowl extend- Ing at least substantially to said walls at the orifice for closing th orifice, means to support the valve in saictclosing position, means to elevate the valve above said orifice to permit descent of material around the valve and through the orifice, the extension projecting below the orifice far enough to prevent the hand of the user from contacting the valve when such hand is engaged against the bottom of the extension, said means to elevate the valve comprising a handle secured to the valve and projecting downwardly therefrom through the extension and below the same.

GEORGE H. PACKWOOD, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,295,665 Younger Feb. 25, 1919 1,525,828 Reeve Feb. 10, 1925 1,558,275 Peterson et a1 Oct. 20, 1925 1,993,401 Dudley Mar. 5, 1935 2,307,291 Packwood Jan. 5, 1943 

